Thumb guard



Sept. 5, 1944. v I McGlNNlS I 2,357,413

' I THUMB GUARD Filed Jan. 26, 1943 Inventor Patented Sept. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THUMB GUARD Lester R. McGinnis, Indianola, Iowa. Application January 26, 1943, Serial No. 473,636

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in thumb guards for babies and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of this character which will prevent the child from indulging in the practice of thumb sucking.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a guard of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for preventing the formation of a vacuum in the mouth of the child should it suck its thumb.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a thumb guard of the char acter described which will not interfere with the use of the thumb on which it is mounted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a thumb guard of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, comfortable, sanitary and which may be manuafctured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a thumb guard constructed in accordance with the present invention in use.

Figure 2 is a. bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the device is formed.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated plate I of metal or other suitable material, said plate being substantially arcuate in cross section. The plate I includes a substantially dovetail inner or rear portion 2.

The plate I is adapted to be mounted longitudinally on the back of the childs thumb, as at 3 in a manner to extend back over the thumb joint. Toward this end, the plate I has formed thereon, at an intermediate point, an integral ring 4 for the reception of the thumb 3. Further, the plate I has formed in its inner or rear end portion a pair of openings 5 through which a securing tape 6 or the like is inserted and tied around the wrist. A groove or channel I is formed longitudinally in the plate I and extends from end to end thereof.

It is thought that the manner in which the device functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the ring 4 is slipped on the thumb 3 past the knuckle and as far back as it will go. Thus, the end of the thumb is free and it may be flexed or bent at the knuckle substantially without interference. The tape or the like 6 is then secured around the wrist for positively retaining the guard in position. Should the child place its thumb with the guard thereon in its mouth, the groove or channel I will prevent the formation of a vacuum in the mouth. In this manner the child is deprived of the satisfaction which causes it to suck its thumb.

As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the embodiment which has'been shown is formed from a single sheet of metal with the exception, of course, of the tape 6. Fingers 8 project from the sides of the plate I. These fingers are bent and joined in a manner to form the ring 4. Of course, the plate I may be shaped and the groove or channel 1 formed therein in any suitable manner.

It is believed that the many advantages of a thumb guard constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A thumb guard of the character described comprising an elongated plate of substantially arcuate cross section for mounting longitudinally on a thumb, said plate having a centrally disposed channel extending longitudinally therein invention, what is from end to end thereof, and means for quickly and removably securing the plate in a predetermined position on the thumb, said means including a ring integral with the plate at an intermediate point adapted to receive the thumb.

2. A thumb guard of the character described comprising an elongated plate of substantially arcuate cross section for mounting longitudinally on the back of a thumb, said plate including a substantially dovetail inner portion having openings therein, a tape threaded through the openings and adapted to encircle the wrist for tying the plate thereto, and a ring integral with the plate at an intermediate point and slidable on the thumb, said plate having a longitudinal channel therein extending from end to end thereof.

3. An anti-sucking thumb guard in the form of a simple readily applicable and removable shield, said shield being in the form of a plate, said plate being longitudinally elongated and arcuate in transverse form, the intermediate portion of the plate being formed with an indentation constituting an open ended air venting channel, the latter extending from end to end of said plate, opposite end portions of the plate being fashioned to conform to that portion of the thumb against which the shield is intimately placed, the intermediate portion of the plate having, on longitudinal edges, a pair of complemental tongues bendable together and forming a thumb embracing ring.

LESTER R. MCGINNIS. 

